"The world is a little less today because of the passing of Faith Hubley," said close friend Dan McLaughlin, head of the UCLA Animation Workshop. "Her animation was magic and poetry, myth and mystery. Her films like all great art, broke through the conventions that were holding the art of animation in chains. With her battles Faith gave the upcoming generation of animators the courage to realize their visions."

Animator Faith Hubley died of cancer on Friday, Dec. 7 in New Haven, Conn. at the age of 77. We will all miss her deeply. As documentarian Sybil DelGaudio, (Independent Spirits: Faith Hubley/John Hubley) put it, Faith was "always optimistic. Never a note of pessimism. She was so inspirational and had so much energy, you felt like she would never run out. I don't think I was the only one who thought of her as the Energizer Bunny."

In fact, DelGaudio explains that Hubley, this extraordina ry independent filmmaker, made an animated work every year since her husband and animation studio partner, John Hubley, passed away in 1977. With John she made another 21. Adds DelGaudio, "She was unstoppable, simply unstoppable." To fulfill one of her mother's last wishes, daughter and independent animator, Emily Hubley, will attend the previously scheduled celebration of the artistry of Hubley and McLaughlin at UCLA tomorrow night (see details below).

Born in New York City, Faith began her career in the theater before moving to Hollywood to become a film editor and script supervisor. Returning to New York, she continued to work on live-action films such as Twelve Angry Men and Go Man Go. In 1955, she and John, established their own studio. Their remarkable partnership represented a significant development in the art of animation. Their films broke away from the formulas of comic book tradition to explore new and provocative ideas. They received scores of awards including three Academy awards for Moonbird (1960), The Hole (1963) and Tijuana Brass Double Feature (1966), from a total of seven nominations.

Faith's recent film, Northern Ice, Golden Sun, will screen tomorrow night at 7:30 in the James Bridges Theater in Melnitz Hall, as part of Two Friends, the retrospective and presentation of new works by Hubley and McLaughlin. The screening is free, but you should RSVP to 310-825-5829. There is a charge for parking. A reception will follow. We will up-date you when we find out details concerning gifts or donations that could be made in Faith's memory.